I've only <recently> acquired a computer and it has been a godsend... I feel like it was divine intervention; as I was at the end of a long & painful life and was seeing nothing, but a bleak future ahead; now I feel like there is hope on the horizon... I have lived with anxiety & depression most of my life... After all these years, I am feeling like I have paid my dues--I have survived, but is this living? " Existing" just doesn't cut it anymore for me... I have become a recluse and am estranged from family & friends... I want to reach out to people, but it is a struggle--just to go out in public and take care of daily tasks... This forum feels like a safe & friendly place to come to--for comfort & support... I hope it is, because isolation, depression & anxiety can eventually erode one's sanity & spirit--leaving one with emptiness & despair... I would appreciate any response... I need to know that I am not the only one struggling with my demons... take care all ...

Hello and welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum. Believe me, you are not alone. Support groups are a place for people to give and receive both emotional and practical support as well as to exchange information. People with health conditions, as well as their friends and families find support groups to be a valuable resource and get confirmation that their feelings are "normal", educate others, or just let off steam. IMHO joining a support group is joining a family so welcome to the family.

I also have the same dx, Anxiety and Major depressive disorder so I know where you are coming from and what you are going through.

I think it is awesome that you have a computer and now you can come here to read and to post whenever you want as we are open 24/7.

If you don't mind my asking are you under the care of a physician of any kind? Also therapy has been very helpful for me.

Please take your time, read through the threads and trust that the members will be caring and supportive.

Hip,I'm 45 and know what you're saying about not having lived yet. However, we just have to take life one day at a time and try to find the joys that each day can bring. It may not be the "joys" that we'd dreamed of as younger folks, but what's the use in crying over yesterday, today?I'm not just saying this to you...I'm saying it just as much to myself.Today was sort of an average day and I felt pretty tired, but when I take time to really reflect back on it, I recall some good things, such as:Watching the bay under a cloudy sky and it was very beautiful in a dramatic sort of way. I loved the feel of the wind which was blowing fairly fast and had a cool mist to it. I remember seeing a cute little boy walking down the sidewalk with a vanilla ice cream cone in his hand and he was so happy with his treat! He was grinning ear-to-ear!A friend was telling me and mom about how her daughter's cockatoo, "Lucy", bit her uncle's big toe and it left three marks on it...she wasn't saying it to be funny, Sooo I had to apologize for laughing (although secretly I was still laughing inside!) Yes, today wasn't a day where anything tremendous happened, but if you look for them, you can often find good things in life, even in the bad times!For example,Back when I was first going for treatment of my anxiety (and it was BAAAAAAAD!!), I was sitting in the waiting room between my parents. I was so anxious that I felt like screaming and crying. BUT...there was this man in the lobby, also waiting to be seen by the psychiatrist, that was telling this other guy this tale about how he used to work as a photographer for Playboy and had made BIG money! They'd hire him back immediately if he wanted to go back... Now this poor fellow was obviously either lying through his teeth to impress the other guy or he was delusional (I believe it was the latter). Whatever the case, the guy that was listening seemed to be accepting the tall tale this dude was spinning! And the icing on the cake was that the storyteller had a bit of a speech impediment as well. Now I knew that my parents were listening (you couldn't help but hear!). My dad had this bit of a "blank" expression on his face (ahhh, must not appear to be the least bit aware of what's being said!) and my mom was fighting back an impulse to laugh, as was I and it was a very difficult situation to be in! My dad looks at me and mom innocently, as if to be too nice to find it amusing and mom and I are fighting to stay in control of our composure. The fellow was totally oblivious to us as he was just as enthralled with his story as everyone else was. I was glad because if not, he'd seen my mom get up and run to the bathroom in tears (of laughter). I was laughing quietly although I was shaking all over from anxiety and laughter!! That's one time when I was crying from fear and hilarity! What a tug-of-war! That man never knew the effect he had on me that day. The humor helped to diffuse some of the misery I felt! So you see, there was something even about that day to smile about! :)And if I may add: I am NOT a cruel person who sits around ridiculing anyone, escpecially the disabled, but at that point in time, I was just as "out of it" in my own way as he was! And just the whole absurdity of it all was overwhelmingly funny to me! Just wanted to clarify!So Hip, you keep on coming here and know that most everyone here knows to some extent, in one way or the other, what you go through. I know in my case that I've had some truly hard times and I'm afraid of a relapse, but I try not to think negatively.No matter what, know that we really do care! I'm glad you finally got a pc! :)jl

thanks all for responding... I've had years to work through my issues with psych docs and therapy, but recovery is truly a state of mind and some days are harder than others. I haven't had the best of luck with meds--I find that they make me lethargic & spaced in a tense way; if you know what I mean... Just reading your replies has made me feel alot better, and I am truly grateful. It will be nice to have a safe place to visit--where one can express feelings without fear of being judged as weak & whiny--who wants to suffer the stigma of that? I am a survivor, and there does come wisdom with age--so I hope that I can <also> help others through their ups & downs. Take care all & peace out...

Since becoming deaf after hearing all my life n my kids are grown now i hv become more n more isolated i so despise what anxiety n panic as well as the isolation has done to mei was always outgoing laughing and had a great time even with a/p now life has become a chore at times BUT know this you will get thru it i do daily n i find my best support right here..keep posting plz n let us know how you are doingISOLATION...IS SOOOO LONELY N SAD FOR US/ ALLHUGGSLYN

thanks all--for the positive vibes... Lyn, I am sorry to hear about your loss of hearing. I am slowly losing my hearing, but it is from aging, and I couldn't imagine losing it all at once. It's bad enough that I am losing my hair & eyesight as well, so you could say that I am not aging gracefully... One has to accept the aging process, but one doesn't have to like it. I found myself isolating <more & more> as my self-esteem plummeted. I struggle to communicate with others, but I have suffered some brain damage over the years, and it has caused my mental processes to become sluggish & I feel so self-conscious that I would rather just avoid people in general. I am so grateful for the chance to express myself in cyber-space--it really takes the pressure off and allows me to open up without fear of making a fool of myself. I cannot express enough< to all of you who responded to my post>--how grateful I am; at least here I feel like I am being heard... take care :)

I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU WHAT THIS SITE N THE PPL ON IT HAVE DONE FOR ME THRU MY YRS HERE......i also started with some hearing loss n i was told it had to do with iv medications for pyoderma gangrenosumi went thru so many deaths including both parents within a couple of yrs...the hubby left for another womanmy brain went on overload n daughter found me in seizure..from there life supportbut MY God wasnt ready for me yetwhen after some time n i came to in hospital i had no hearing at all

plus i suffer with memory loss and losing sighti know there is so many others worse than i am so i really do count my blessings that i m still alive to try n help othersi really do feel your pain n frustrationSTAY with us n know you are a person who matters to me and all others hereblessingslyn

Can definitely relate to isolation, though I think it is not a good thing, because when I do get out and interact with a positive outcome, I feel better. Sometimes I think we surround ourselves with the wrong kind of people, people that do judge us or are so self-centered they cannot relate to another person. I do not have panic attacks but I have high anxiety, one PDoc told me I was Bipolar, not really sure about that one, sometimes I get depressed but not too often. I have never had success with the different meds I have been put on over the years, I react very negatively, really they make me worse. Currently I am on 1 mil Xanax a day, have been trying to taper down the dose but it gets very very uncomfortable. I work a full time job but other than that I just go home, lately home is not a very happy place either, I feel lost, lonely and confused. I try to stay focused on the positive in my life and I am very grateful, just feeling kind of empty lately..............such is life!

So glad you got a computer, I know that does help you connect and have some fun along the way. This is a great forum, I have always found companionship and reassurance here, I hope you do as well.

I also know (or understand) what you're going through. It's hard to just get out of bed when you feel so alone and uncared for. Even though it's almost impossible to believe at some points, there ARE people in your life that love you. It may be people you never even realized. There are definitely people who care about you and what you are struggling with - evidenced by this message board. By the way, my REAL name is Rheanon, and I have been told by many of my friends that I am a good listener. So whenever you need an unbiased ear, just let me know!

Yesterday, was a rough day, didn't read the posts--wish I had...I feel so blessed to be on this forum-thanks again... Sometimes, I feel so worn out from struggling with my need to isolate vs wanting human companionship-- that I just become numb and do nothing. I know that we have to become an active participant in our own recovery, but, at times, I feel like giving up...I know this dark phase will pass in time, and that knowledge is what keeps me holding on... I have made attempts at socializing with others, but I haven't been too successful; especially in person. The meds that I am prescribed have worked to a certain point, unfortunately, not enough to eliminate the social phobia forever. all I can say is--you are all a Godsend-a true blessing, and I will keep posting... :)

SOOOOO glad u posted n yes we can get thru the dark days come here even when you dont want to n read the posts the great family atmosphere that is here n understandingit truly does help get you thru so much of all we are dealt either by giving us input or new tools to use..sharing a smile anything to get out of the pitglad you r with us ..trulyhuggslyn

You have been really sweet and helpful posting to my messages, so I'm gonna try and see if I can't help a little here. I go through those same feelings, and have also been battling depression as well as anxiety for over 10 years now. It makes it hard to see past your problems when they mount up in your head and eat away at you.

Any of the friends you've pulled away from, do you think any of them deal with the same struggles as you? Maybe you could give one a call and just in a nutshell let them know you're having hard times, and really want to reconnect. When I was deep in my depression, I also pulled away from everyone. One day I decided to call a friend of mine who had mentioned similar struggles, and we actually found comfort in talking about what each of us were dealing with and it really helped with the loneliness.

I don't know if that's an option for you, but it could definitely help fight the feelings of isolation. Because you are not alone - this msg board proves that, and some of your friends might be dealing with the same issues, and not know what to do about it.

I would advise against referring them here though. It might not bother you to have someone you personally know join this site, but it would keep me from feeling I could open up fully, knowing someone I know in real life see what I talk about here. If that wouldn't be a problem for you, then by all means do it!

Hey Old Hippy,I think I am an old hippy too. I truly never understood isolation until I retired and all my friends who were connected to my work moved on leaving me behind. I had no back up plan as I did not know I was going to need one. I am still floundering but I always keep my eye on that light at the end of the tunnel.

Please know we are here for you so stay connected and we will help you as much as we can.

Yes it is hades hun you sit n watch time go by sometimes not knowing what day it isi get so bleeding frustrated

this isnt me you know that ive always been outside outdoors taking off somewhere kinda personnow its a struggle but i am forcing selfcait said yesterday she lost her fun mom when i took sick that cut deephuggslyn

Good day to all. I was looking through the post and the part about being "beyond help" just glared at me. None of us on this planet are beyond help or hope. We are all just trying to get through each and everyday the best way we can. Some days are good, some are not, such is life. don't give up and keep posting..............we have each other.